LINCOLN, N.H. -- Joe Gray (Lakewood, Washington) took home his ninth national title Sunday, capturing the 2014 USA Mountain Running Championship on Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

Gray won his third USA Mountain Running crown, finishing in 45:52.3. The race marked Gray’s first national title on an uphill-only course with Loon Mountain featuring an average of 10% grade throughout the race. Gray is the first athlete to win back-to-back titles on different grade courses, winning on an up/down course in 2013.

Allie McLaughlin (Colorado Springs, Colorado) captured the women’s title on Loon Mountain, crossing in 47:12.4, a full minute ahead of her competitors. The 23-year-old former Colorado All-American has already made a name for herself on the national cross country scene and is continuing to see success in mountain running, navigating the Loon Mountain course with relative ease.

The 7-mile men’s course and 4.8-mile women’s course began along the service trails heading up Loon Mountain before veering into the Nordic Ski trail network. After the new section of course, it followed a traditional combination of dirt trail, service roads, and ski trails to the Summit Lodge at the top of the Gondola. The course worked its way over and up to the summit of North Peak via the infamous Upper Walking Boss.

The 2014 USA Mountain Running Championships served as the sole selection event for the 2014 World Mountain Running Championships in Casette di Massa, Italy, on September 14.

A full photo gallery is available online from the 2014 USA Mountain Running Championships.